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Wisdom

           But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5)

          It’s said we should never pray for patience because praying for patience results in our needing to have patience. The same is probably true of wisdom. After all, if we already know how to handle a situation we don’t need wisdom, and the best way to learn how to handle a situation is to struggle our way through it. As a friend of mine put it, what we want is to go about our lives, come to a difficulty and have a note lowered on a fishing line that tells us what to do. “Ah!” We say, and, putting on our best Sherlock Holmes or Fourth Doctor demeanor (arrogance), we stride forward with all the answers. We want the glory of wisdom without the pain.

          And, of course, God could grant us supernatural wisdom. I believe that He sometimes does. But that’s not the way it usually works.

          If we do ask for wisdom, we’re warned to ask in faith without any doubting.  Imagine trying to reach the store by backing out of your driveway and pulling back in over and over. The journey of a thousand miles may begin with the first step, but if every second step is backward, you’ll never get there. Wisdom, then requires a kind of heroism. Heroes must face trials, tribulations, and temptations – and emerge victorious over them, bloodied but unbowed.

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